Video Blog on the Grey Hornbill

On safari With Kara From 3 November 2016

3 November 2016

Today was a good day. We were blown away by the amount of special sightings we had.

From a baby baboon hanging onto his moms belly while another sibling tries to steel him away. To two giraffes trying to mate and help the population grow.

Some mongoose were starting to become active from their termite mounds and having to make peace with sharing it with Large Plated Lizards.

The 2 cheetahs lying asleep under a sickle bush was a biiig bonus for our morning drive. Which we were very grateful for.

A big herd of buffalos also came down to a nearby dam to drink water later on and take a swim.

Not only did the buffalos enjoy the water in the heat of the day but also 2 male elephants were climbing on top of one another in Nyamundwa dam.

4 November 2016

Today we had to say goodbye to our two Finnish Guests after yet a lovely game drive. Having seen a male lion lying next to the road and later Giraffes crossing the road.

A few hyenas also came to sniff our bumper and a elephant came to show us his size and remind us to have a healthy amount of respect for him.

My highlight was three male elephants trying to all squeeze themselves under one tree and pushing and shoving to fit.

5 November 2016

Being our last morning together with my last remaining guests we still saw a few new species.

One being 2 klipspringers on a rocky outcrop eating from a marula and followed by a few reedbuck grazing in-between zebras.

A sable also walked next to a stream in the morning light.

Followed by a baby giraffe whom was sure he is a impala socializing between the herd.

As always it tough to say goodbye to Sebastian and Manuel after laughing and spending allot of time together. But all fun things need to come to an end.

On Safari With Amanda From 4 November 2016

4 November 2016

Today I collected 4 new guests from Kruger airport, Emanuel and his wife along with their nephew and his wife.

We arrived at a very hot Kruger and checked into nkambeni camp. 

My guests were on a sundowner where they spotted elephants, zebras and lovely impalas. 

Early to bed after supper after a long day for my guests. 

5 November 2016

Today temperatures were expected to reach a high of 36° so set off early after breakfast towards skukuza. 

A magnificent herd of Elephants literally surround our car and came so close it was breathtaking. A dazzle of zebras and further along we waited patiently for 3 rhinos to cross the road a few meters ahead of us.

Things were hotting up as we took a turn onto napi boulders, always beautiful to look at this amazing rock formation. Looking in the shady parts of the rock we spotted 2 lionesses on closer inspection hidden deeper behind them were at least 3 others resting from the scorching African sun!

After spending some time with the lions we headed for a coffee break.

Stopping at a waterhole we saw a huge kudu bull coming to drink we watched and then drove slowly towards a little koppie where a leopard and her cub are sometimes found, we located the cave and sat for a while and after 5 mins she made her appearance, beautiful! 

A quick lunch and we headed back to camp as my guests wanted to do another sunset drive... luckily for them they found another leopard and 2 big male lions!

A great day had by all as we relax and catch up on the days events!

On Safari With Amanda From 11 October 2016

11 October 2016

Today I collect my guests, Jim and Marty, celebrating a 20 year anniversary and Jim’s 50th.

Incredibly hot as we headed to our first stop, berg en dal for 2 nights so we really weren't expecting to see much.

Instead we were greeted by zebras, kudus, warthogs, giraffes and elephants.

A stop at afsaal for refreshments and we checked into our accommodation.

After supper Jim and Marty decided to walk to their room.. but ended up at the gate entrance where they heard the lions calling close by!!! They quickly retreated to the safety of their room...eventually! 

12 October 2016 

An early start and after hearing the lions last night we decided we had to find them.

We were doing a morning drive so we could take a slow amble around the area.

Lovely Elephants and rhinos along with impalas and zebras but still no lions. We headed on the 114 and lovely sighting of a tawny eagle as well as lilac breasted rollers and blue waxbill.  

Turning onto the 119 we saw a few cars and there in the tree were at least 6 spots...of a well hidden leopard! always good to wait, so we did and very slowly a huge male leopard climbed down and walked along side of the vehicle, an absolutely stunning sighting.

After breakfast we headed back to camp where Jim and Marty were doing a sunset drive at 4:30.

I greeted 2 very excited guests showing me photos of a handsome male lion and a beautiful lioness about 2 meters from the road. Marty was also luck to spot a honey badger.

Supper and then we were off tomorrow for a night at skukuza. 

13 October 2016

We left berg en dal and headed to skukuza at 6am. Always good to start early. We decided to make a day of it and had lovely Elephants and lots of general game.

We made a stop at skukuza as we were too early to check in so decided to drive to high level bridge. Along the way we came across some very well hidden wild dogs!

At high level itself to the right of the bridge we saw 2 lionesses lying on a sand bank. Quite far but still impressive. Heading back to camp along the river lots of elephants, hippos and buffalos. 

14 October 2016

We decided on an early drive and then to head back for breakfast at skukuza for a delicious buffet. Driving down the 114 to renosterkoppies we came across a duiker just staring at a termite mound, we watched and she would move every now and then a couple of steps back, something had her attention. .. to our surprise we saw a huge, at least 3.5 m long African rock python moving slowly over the termite mound, so fascinating to witness and something I've never seen. Marty also saw a honey badger!!! 

After breakfast we were heading to our next stop, nkambeni and we heard of a leopard kill not far away so we headed off. We came across a female impala wedged into a marula tree and to the left we saw a tail and 1 leg! So we decided to sit and wait...every now and then she appeared and would relax and just stare at us. Lovely. 

Checked in at nkambeni and time for a siesta and an early supper.

15 October 2016 

Leaving camp we headed off to skukuza for a full day drive. We went via watergat and to the right we came across an old male lion and 2 lionesses, all full after feasting on a young buffalo. We sat for a while and drove off, just at the junction something caught our eyes. .more lions with another buffalo kill!!! We wanted to go and check to see if the leopard was still at the same spot so took a drive and she was on the opposite side of the road lying incredibly well camouflaged in a bush!

After lunch we drove along the Doispan road. Lots of general game and then just before nyamundwa dam we saw something hanging in the tree, it was a young buffalo that had been killed by a leopard, the leopard was on the opposite side cooling down in the shade. A fantastic day!

16 October 216

Our last day together and a short drive around shabeni and pk koppies. Lots of elephants and some beautiful sable antelope. Perched on top of manung koppies were 2 klipspringers. 

We grabbed a coffee and then went to shitlave dam where there were lots of elephants and giraffes. Listening carefully I heard the impala alarm calling and we drove to see what was bothering them, we'd just missed the leopard and it was resting in the drainage line!! Oh well it was still interesting to witness the impalas calling and literally showing us where the leopard was!

So another safari is over, Marty and Jim heading off on their next adventure...Cairo! 

On safari With Robbie 28 September 2016

28 September 2016

Todays first top sighting was literally the first species seen which was a beautiful male Leopard surveying the savannah from a large Leadwood tree!! Incredibly so we had this beauty for ourselves for 20 minutes as most vehicles chose an alternative route!! The large male literally stretched and yawned several times allowing for perfect photos!!!

Within 25 minutes there were 30 plus vehicles at the scene so we moved off!

Later in the day our second best location occurred near Matekenyane hill where we came across a mating Lion pair!

The Lioness however showed zero interest in her male when we were there and at one stage literally attacked the keen big male in mid air when he tried to mate allowing yet again for incredible photos for our very enthusiastic Israeli guests!

On a day where all 3 super predators of Kruger were spotted i.e. 1)Lion 2)Hyena and 3) Leopard we also saw a solitary female Wild dog who was busy trying to den her new born pups which we unfortunately couldn’t get a glimpse of!!

Elephant and Buffalo herds were prolific as well as general game!!